Mighty Macs hopeful despite losses

EAST WHITELAND – Basketball coaches often fret about counting on inexperienced players to fill key roles. But Immaculata women’s coach Patty Canterino is enthused about her young team’s makeup.

“We have a very, very young team,” Canterino acknowledged. “But we are excited because there is a great amount of energy, they have excellent attitudes and they work hard.”

Key seniors from 2011-12 -- Bridget Walz, Brianna Duffin and Kelly Brown -- have moved on, and so has center Leah Kuczynski, who still had a year of eligibility remaining but was enrolled in the three-year Jefferson Program. That means that starting point guard Chrissy Esbensen is the lone returning regular in the lineup of a team that went 12-5 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament.

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Esbensen (5-foot-1) led that team in minutes played and assists, and chipped in 11.2 points per game. In addition, fellow seniors Katie Durkin (5-9) and Jackie Deegler (5-6) are also in the mix at forward.

“We brought in a big group of freshmen last year so now there is a possibility of putting Chrissy at (shooting guard) from time to time,” Canterino said. “That means Chrissy will be able to take off and help us play an up-tempo game instead of always having to bring the ball upcourt.”

“And (Durkin) can knock down big shots and she led our team in shot blocks. She really wants to be an impact player for her senior year.”

That big group of freshmen is now sophomores, and will be asked to carry much more of the load. Forward Meghan Gallagher (5-10), and guards Mackie Fitzgerald (5-2) and Sara Smith (5-7), are all expected to move in the starting lineup. Those three, along with post player Brittany Merkle (5-11), all hail from Archbishop Prendergast.

“When we recruited them, we told them they would have a year to really understand what we try to do here, and then we would count on them to contribute a lot as sophomores,” Canterino said. “They are all Prendy kids so they are used to playing with each other.”

Esbensen will need to provide more scoring in addition to her playmaking talents. She will continue to be the regular at the point, but because Fitzgerald and freshman Christie Orgera (5-3) have the ability to run the offense, it will allow Esbensen to get out in the open court and get some easy transition buckets for herself or her teammates.

“I think we will be fast and able to push the ball more than we have in the past because in previous years, after we got a rebound, we were always looking for Chrissy,” Canterino explained. “These kids don’t do that, and that gives her the ability to run the floor.”

Canterino is hoping it will also help transform others, like Smith, into more of a scoring threat. A wing player, Smith averaged 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per outing despite making just one start so far in her career.

“We are going to make some mistakes, so we have to be patient but we are going to get better each day,” Canterino said. “Once we get a few games under our belt, I think we will begin the gel.”